title: Bone mineral density, bone turnover markers and fractures in patients with systemic sclerosis: a case control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to elucidate the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis-related osteoporosis and the prevalence of vertebral fragility fracture in postmenopausal women with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four postmenopausal women with scleroderma and 54 postmenopausal controls matched for age, BMI, and smoking habits were studied. BMD was measured by dual energy-x-ray absorptiometry at spine and femur, and by ultrasonography at calcaneus The markers of bone turnover included serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline. All subjects had a spine X-ray to ascertain the presence of vertebral fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  bone mineral density at lumbar spine (BMD 0.78±0.08 vs 0.88±0.07; p<0,001), femoral neck (BMD: 0.56±0.04 vs 0.72±0.07; p<0,001) and total femur (BMD: 0.57±0.04 vs 0.71±0.06; p<0,001) and ultrasound parameter at calcaneus (SI: 80.10±5.10 vs 94.80±6.10 p<0,001) were significantly lower in scleroderma compared with controls; bone turnover markers and parathyroid hormone level were significantly higher in scleroderma compared with controls, while serum of 25(OH)D3 was significantly lower. In scleroderma group the serum levels of 25(OH)D3 significantly correlated with PTH levels, BMD, stiffness index and bone turnover markers. One or more moderate or severe vertebral fractures were found in 13 patients with scleroderma, wherease in control group only one patient had a mild vertebral fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data shows, for the first time, that vertebral fractures are frequent in subjects with scleroderma, and suggest that lower levels of 25(OH)D3 may play a role in the risk of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. matteritano@unime.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atteritano
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sorbara
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sangari
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgante
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Visalli
authors.forename: Gianfilippo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagnato
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; C036020:deoxypyridinoline; D002112:Calcifediol